Aeroplane control



i. F. VERNER. AEROPLANE CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-7.1918.

Patented Feb,

mm m M 1 114!!! ll ffifll lllllllllll masa u JAMES FREDERICK VERNER, OF TORONTO,

. since.

ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 GRAND RAPIDS TRUST COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN; AS TRUSTEE FOR MARY ELLEN KENYON, EDWARD J. CLARK, AND HERMAN CLARK ANDERSON.

Application filed March 7,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, James F RED. VERNER, of the city of Toronto .in the county of York. in the Province of Ontario, Canada,

'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplane Controls, of which the following is the specification.

My invention relates. to improvements in aeroplane controls and the object of the invention is to devise means whereby the front or rear control levers 'may be rendered inclependently operative by the operator of the other of the controls whereby such control will remain operative and the other control rendered inoperative to obviate the danger of accidents caused by the occupant of the acroplane'losing control thereof so that in the case of a fighting machine when one of the occupants is disabled and interferes with thecontrol of the machine his control mech anism may be disconnected so that the other occupant may entirely control the machine and in the case of a training machine should the cadet lose his head and not be capable of operating his control mechanism properly the instructor may disconnect the control mechanism of the cadetvso as to render it inoperative and allow .of the instructor op erating the machine independently and it consists essentially of the following 2L1".

rangement and construction of parts as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Figure l, is a general perspective view of my device.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail of the mechanism for breaking the connection of either the front or rear manually operated lever with the control mechanism.

F ig. 3, is a plan View of the mechanism for breaking the connection of the front rudder control lever with the rear rudder control lever.

indicate corresponding parts in the'various figures. l and 2 indicate the front and rear bear- AEROPLANE CONTROL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentadl PPM. 10, 1920.

1918. Serial No. 221,013.

ing brackets suitably secured to the bottom of thefuselage. 3 indicates a rocking shaft journaled in the bearing brackets 1 and 2. l. indicates the front manually operated control lever, which is swung at its lower end upon the forwardend of the rocking shaft 3. 5 indicates the rear manually operated control lever, which is swung at its lower end upon the rear end of the rocking shaft 3. Each of the levers 4 and 5 is broken intermediately of its length, thelower portions being provided with tubular portions 4* and 5 formed integral with the forks 4: and 5. 6 indicates a socket member provided with a depending tubularportion 6 a socket portionfi and tubular portion 6 being pro vided for each front and rear lever, a tubular portion 6 fitting into each of the tubular portions 4* and 5 and being suitably secured therein. Each tubular portion 6*. is provided at its lower end with a closure nut 6 (see Fig. '2) provided with a central orifice 6 6 indicates an orifice extending through the bottom ofthe socket 6 in vertical alinement with the orifice 6 7 indicates a plunger which extends through the orifice 6* and is provided with ashoulder 7*. 8 indicates a compression spring extending between the shoulder 7" and the nut 6 Each control lever i and 5 fits into a sleeve member 9 and is suitably secured therein. Each sleeve member 9 is provided with a depending stem 10 terminating in a ball 11, which fits into the socket 6. 12indicates a ring cap Which fits over the upper portion of the ball lland is provided with I lugs 13, which are bolted to the lugs 6 extending from. the socket 6. ll indicates a recess formed in each ball 11 diametrically opposite the stem 10 and into whichthe plunger 7 fits'when either lever 4: or 5 is in its neutral position.

14.- indicates a grooved roller which is journaled in a suitable cross pin carried in the fork 5 of the lever-5. 15 indicates a similar roller journaled on a similar cross pin carried in the forl r of the lever 4:. 16

indicates a grooved pulley journaled on a pin 16 extending from the side of the fork 4; and 17 indicates a similar pulley similarly moiinted on a pin extending from the fork 5 at the opposite side of the mechanism to the pulley 16. 18 indicates a which extend r-earwardly to the rudder.

. the suppi bracket carried by the lower portion of the lever and 19 indicates a similar bracket carried by the lower portion of the lever 4 on the opposite side to the bracket 18. The

brackets 13 and 19 extend upwardly and are formed into v -shaped heads 13 and 19 carrying arc-shaped guides 20 andQl provided with ratchet notches 22.

23 and 2% indicate levers which are journaled in the apexes of the bracket heads l8 and 19 and extend upwardly through the guides 20 and 21. The lower ends of the levers .23 and it are provided with stems 25 and 26 from which extend arms 27 and 328. 29 indicates a cable, which extends from the arm 28 around t he pulley l6 and around the pulley ll, the free end of such cable being connected to an eye formed at the lower end of the spring held plunger? (see Fig. 30 indicates a cable, which extends from the arm 27 around the pulley 17 and around the pulley 15 to the eye of a plunger corresponding to the plunger 7 and located in the lower portion of the leveree Each lever 23 and Ql is provided with a hollow handle 24*, the upper portion of which is provided with a closing plug 2% having a center orifice 24 2& indicates a plunger provided with a press button 2% at its upper end and a shoulder Q-P located when the plunger is in its normal position immediately beneath the closureFZl. 24 indicates a coi'nprcssion spring extending between the base of the hollow portion of the handle 94* and the shoulder By this means the plunger is always held in its upper position. 3& indicates a ratchet formed integral with the plunger 24: and held in a guide 2%" formed in the handle The ratchet head 2%. normally engages the teeth 22 of the guide 20 or 21.

31 indicates a link rod provided with forked ends 32 and pivotally connected to the lower portions -'l* and 5* of the levers l and 5. The lower portion 5* of the lever 5 is provided with rearwardly extending lugs 3% to which is connected a cable 35 which connected to control the elevators 36 indicates an arm carried by the rockthe fuselage and which carry the rear 1ll(l' oer control lever 38 and forward rudder control lever 39,, such rear and forward rudder control levers 38 and 39 being swingably mounted on standards 36 and 37,

40 and all indicate cables connected to inental lever 42 located beneath rd rudder control lever 39 and a5 indicates a semi-circular bracket which is S8". cured to the rearward edge of the lever 39 l6 indicates a similar bracket extending the forw having a central orifice 51.

from the supplemental lever l-Q 47 indicates a hollow boss extending from the portion 46, the orifice of such boss extending through the portion lG and being in a line with a similar orifice 4:8 formed in the semicircular portion 45. The lower end of the hollow boss is provided with a closure 50 52 indicates a plunger provided with a stem 53 extending through the orifice 51 and provided at its lower end with an eye 5%. 55 indicates a compression spring extending between the lower end of the plunger and the closure 8% indicates a cable connected at one end to the cable 30 and passing around pulleys 85, 86 and'87 to the stem 53 of the locking plunger connecting the levers l2 and 39.

It will be seen that when the plunger is withdrawn the connection between the foot lever 39 and supplemental lever- 42* is broken thereby allowing of the free movement of the foot lever 39 independently of the supplemental lever 42*; The supplemental lever 42*, it will be noticed on referring to Fig. 3, is sufficiently short so as to escape the foot of the operator which engages the notches 38 and 38 of the lever 39.

61 and 62 indicate cables leading rearwardly from each end'of the foot lever 38. 63 and 6% indicatebars connecting the free ends of the cables 61 and 62. The bars 63 and Get are provided with conical enlargements 65 and 66, the base of each of such enlargements being presented inwardly.

It will be noted uponrparticularly referring to Fig. 5 that these enlargements 65 and 66 are located intermediately of the length of each bar 63 and 64. Each bar 63 and 64: is providedwith a collar 67 secured in a stationary position upon the bar. 68 indicate collars movabl' mounted upon the bars 63v and 64 and eld against the small end of each conical enlargement 65 and 66 by compression springs 69.

70 indicates a bar member provided with arms 71 and 72 pivotally secured to each of the collars 68 at diametrically opposite points. 71 and 72* indicate cables extending from the bar 70 to the rudder. Each collar 68 is rovided' with outwardly extending lugs 68* and 68. 73 indicate gripping jaw members. A gripping jaw member7 3 is pivotally mounted upon each of the lugs 68 and 68 and they are held together bya tension spring 74: so that the free ends of the jaw members extend over the broad and or face of the conical member 65 in proximity tothe rod 64C. The opposite ends of the jaw members are provided with tail pieces 75 and T6. 77 and 78 indicate cables, which are connected to a single cable 7 9 and extend around a pulley 80. The cables 79 extend from the pulley 80 longitudinally of the fuselage and pass around pulleys 81 and 82., each cable '59 passing upwardly from the pulley 82 to the arm 28 to which it is secured.

Having described the principal. parts involved in my invention I will briefly describe the, operation of the same.

If it is desirable that the operator of the rear control lever 5 should operate the ma chine independently all that the operator has to do is to strike the lever 23 so as to force it forward, the ratchet head 24 slipping over the ratchet teeth 22and automatlcally locking the lever at the place to which it is moved. In order to again release the lever allthat it is necessary to do is to press upon the button 24* thereby carrying the ratchet head 24 out of engagement. with the teeth 22. movement of the lever a. pull is exerted upon the cable 30. The pull'on the cable 30 withdraws the plunger 7 located inthe lower portion 4* of the control lever -t so as to carry it out of engagement with the recess 11 of the ball 11. By this means the connection bet-ween the upper portion ofthe lever I and the lower portion of the lever is broken so that such upper portion can be swung around in any direction by reason of the freed ball and socket connection 11 and (5 without having any influence upon the control mechanism of the machine.

It will also be seen that the rudder control lever 39 is disconnected by the pull on the cable 8-} withdrawing the locking plunger 53. The foot lever 38 can then be operated independently, pulling upon the cables 61 and 62 to operate the rudder.

If,however, instead of the operator ofthe lever'4' being out of con'miission the operator of the lever 5 is thrown out of commission then the operator of the lever4 forces the supplemental lever 24 rearward, such lever operating similarly to the operator 23 hereinbefore described thereby carrying the arm 28 upward to pull upon the cables 29 and 79. The cable 29 draws upon the plunger 7 located in the lower portion 5 of the lever 5 carrying such plunger out of the recess 11 of the ball 11 of the lever 5 and thereby breaking the connection between the. upper end of the lever 5 and the lower portion so that the upper portion can be swung in any direction or held ,in any position without having any influence upon the control mechanism. Simultaneously the pull upon the cable 79 draws upon the cables 77 and. 78 pulling such cable portions around the pulley 80 and drawing the tail pieces and 76 of the jaw members together against the tension of the spring-74. By this means the engaging ends ot-the members 73 are carried outward clear of the conical enlargei'nent 65.

It will; theretorebe seen that should the operator of the lever 38 lose control the rudder controls may be operated directly By the forward plemental levers (the cable 29 or jaw from the lever 39 through the cable 40, any pull exerted by the operator of the lever 38 upon the cables 61 and 62 being taken up by the compression of the springs 69 and, therefore, not influencing the cables 71 and 72 extending to the rudder.

From this description it will be seen that I have devised a very simple device whereby operating levers either at the front or rear may be thrown out of connection with the controlling mechanism so as to render either inoperative and allow the independent operation of the machine by those levers left in engagement, that is to say, by either the trout or; rear engaged levers.

In operating-my'device it may be said that it takes less than 5 seconds of time to re,- store control to the control mechanism after the breaking of such control mechanism and such restoration of control can be effected during flying of the machine without the necessity of landing.

It will be observed that the supplemental hand operated lever 27 (or 28) is carried by the hand operated control lever and therefore is readily accessible to the hand of the operator under. all conditions of flying, that is, in all the difierent angular positions that the hand operated control lever may assume.

In other words, the supplemental lever follows the movement of the hand operated control lever and is thus ready at hand to be operated at all times. Furthermore. as the connections extending from these sup- 100 30 in the form shown) extend down along the hand operated control levers to near the rock shaft Band thence along the rock shaft tocontrol the. connection between the sections of the other hand operated control lever these con nectious will not be ati'ected by the swinging of the hand operated control levers to different angular positions.

WVhat I claim asmy invention is:

1. In an aeroplane control mechanism, a control lever divided intermediate of its length. a ball and socket connection betweenthe portions of the lever, a spring plunger carried by one member of the ball and socket connection and engaging the other member, said spring plunger being within the lower portion of the divided lever and operating longitudinally thereof. a complementary control lever, a supplemental lever carried adjacent thereto and means operated thereby and extending into the lower part of the divided lever for withdrawin the spring plunger to disconnect the ball and socket,

tending from a rudder-controlled lever to I36 the rudder, a resilient compressible coupling member connecting the divided portions t the cable together and comprising two portions one member being connected to one portion of the cable and the other member to the other portion of the c: ble. engaging releasable means for rigidly connecting the portions of the coupling member together. a supplemental manually controlled lever located adjacent to the front manually controlled lever and means operated thereby for releasing the engaging members of such coupling member.

3. In an aeroplane control mechanism, the combination with. the front control lever, rear foot controlled lever and divided cable connection extending therefrom. of a coupling member for connecting the divided portions of the cable together and comprising a bar member provided with. a conical enlargement intern'iediately of its length connected to one portion of the cable, an abutment located to the rear end of the rod, a collar freely carried by the rod between the abutment and the conical enlargement, a spring extending between the abutment and collar. a bar member connecting; the collar to the other portion of the cable, jaw members carried by the collar extending over and engaging with the enlarged end of the conical member a supplemental lever located adjacent to the front manually controlled lever, and a cable and pulley connection between the supplemental manually controlled lever and the jaw members withdrawing the jaw members out of engagement with'the conical member.

l. In combination, a pair of hand op.- erated control levers, one for each operator, one of said hand operated levers being formed in sections, means for locking the sections together, a rock shaft upon which the said levers are pivotally mounted, a supplemental hand lever adjacent one of the hand operated control levers. and carried thereby and a connection extending from said supplemental lever down along the main hand lever thence along the. rock shaft and thence upwardly along the other hand operated control lever to the locking means thereof whereby the said connection may be operated in all positions-of the hand operated control lever, rudder control foot levers, a supplemental toot lever interposed between one of the main foot levers and the rudder connection, a detachable lock between the supplemental foot lever and its main toot lever. said detachable lock being operable from the connection extending along the rock shaft, substantially as described.

J AMES FREDERICK VERNER.

lVitnesses M. EGAN, B. BOYD. 

